On a weekend when the massive stages at Coachella capture the music world’s attention, there’s a refreshing intimacy to Cat Burn’s stop at NNewcastle as she tours second album How To Be Human.
The 25-year-old has become something of a household name following her appearance in The Celebrity Traitors last September, but Saturday night in the Toon celebrates Burns’ bread and butter. This is a BRIT Award nominee with a sharpener.
The 70-minute set is a story of heartbreak and healing, told from Burn’s living room as she bobs up and down from a cozy armchair placed center stage.
Even when it hurts, the songwriting enjoys a patience to let the emotions pass. “Can time go faster?” comes early and Burns gives a knowing nod to its climbing final chorus. “I Hope It’s Me” follows as she comes to terms with a loving goodbye.
Burns kicks the night into high gear on ‘Sad Forever’ and enjoys sing-alongs from the sell-out Geordie crowd. “I Love You, But” follows in the same vein – “it’s such a song”, laughs the singer afterwards.
As the opening notes of “Gemini” begin halfway through the night, Burns is in her element and with a twinkle in her eye as she waves back to smiling faces in the audience.
The artist is a different version of himself than the person who wrote the album. Burns blushes as she admits she’s now fallen in love again – “When I’m With You” and “Please Don’t Hate Me” lean towards the feeling of the butterflies resurfacing.
The biggest hits come last when radio-ready ‘People Pleaser’ kicks off an encore. Unreleased “Is It That Deep” may be the star’s biggest song to date.
There’s only time for Burns to throw out some Newcastle love in old Bigg Market clubs and Geordie Shore before closing with breakthrough single ‘go’. A triumphant night.
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